Mercury accumulation in reef fishes: a comparison among red grouper, scamp, and gag of the Atlantic southeastern US and evaluation of “grouper” consumption guidelines

2021 ◽  
Vol 193 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiley Sinkus ◽  
Byron White ◽  
LouAnn Reed ◽  
Virginia Shervette
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Mercury Accumulation ◽  
Southeastern Us ◽  
Red Grouper

Novel epigenetic age estimation in wild-caught Gulf of Mexico reef fishes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Nick Weber ◽  
Andrew T. Fields ◽  
William F. Patterson ◽  
Beverly K. Barnett ◽  
Christopher M. Hollenbeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Age Estimation ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Lutjanus Campechanus ◽  
Cpg Sites ◽  
Epigenetic Aging ◽  
Epigenetic Age ◽  
Red Grouper ◽  
Species Specific

Cutting-edge DNA methylation-based epigenetic aging techniques were applied to Gulf of Mexico northern red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus; n = 10; 1–26 years old) and red grouper (Epinephelus morio; n = 10; 2–14 years old). Bisulfite-converted restriction site-associated DNA sequencing was used to identify CpG sites (cytosines followed by guanines) that exhibit age-correlated DNA methylation, and species-specific epigenetic clocks developed from 100s of CpG sites in each species showed strong agreements between predicted and otolith-derived ages (r2 > 0.99 for both species). Results suggest epigenetic age estimation could provide an accurate and efficient approach to mass-aging fishes in a non-invasive manner.

scholarly journals Red Grouper (Epinephelus morio) Shape Faunal Communities via Multiple Ecological Pathways

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Florida Bay ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Strong Interactions ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Colonizing Species ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Juvenile Coral ◽  
Epinephelus Morio ◽  
Red Grouper ◽  
Faunal Communities

Organisms that modify the availability of abiotic resources for other species can alter the structure and function of ecological communities through multiple pathways. In Florida Bay, red grouper (Epinephelus morio) engineer habitats by excavating sediment and detritus from karst solution holes and are also predators that consume a variety of benthic crustaceans and fish, some of which colonize engineered habitats. The effect of red grouper on these communities is complex as colonizing species interact with red grouper in different ways, including both direct (e.g., predator–prey) and indirect interactions. Here, I present the results of an experiment designed to test the direct effects of red grouper on faunal communities associated with Florida Bay solution holes by excluding red grouper from solution holes for four weeks. Red grouper presence generally had positive effects on the abundance, richness, and diversity of faunal communities associated with engineered habitats. Few strong interactions were observed between red grouper and colonizing species, mainly juvenile coral reef fishes. These results suggest that by acting as both a predator and habitat engineer, red grouper shape unique communities, distinct from those of surrounding areas, and influence the composition of communities associated with manipulated habitats.

scholarly journals Modeling Coral Reef Fish Home Range Movements in Dry Tortugas, Florida

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas A. Farmer ◽  
Jerald S. Ault
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reef ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Dry Tortugas ◽  
Red Grouper

Underestimation of reef fish space use may result in marine reserves that are too small to effectively buffer a portion of the stock from fishing mortality. Commonly used statistical home range models, such as minimum convex polygon (MCP) or 95% kernel density (95% KD) methods, require the exclusion of individuals who move beyond the bounds of the tracking study. Spatially explicit individual-based models of fish home range movements parameterized from multiple years of acoustic tracking data were developed for three exploited coral reef fishes (red grouperEpinephelus morio, black grouperMycteroperca bonaci, and mutton snapperLutjanus analis) in Dry Tortugas, Florida. Movements were characterized as a combination of probability of movement, distance moved, and turning angle. Simulations suggested that the limited temporal and geographic scope of most movement studies may underestimate home range size, especially for fish with home range centers near the edges of the array. Simulations provided useful upper bounds for home range size (red grouper:2.28±0.81 km2MCP,3.60±0.89 km2KD; black grouper:2.06±0.84 km2MCP,3.93±1.22 km2KD; mutton snapper:7.72±2.23 km2MCP,6.16±1.11 km2KD). Simulations also suggested that MCP home ranges are more robust to artifacts of passive array acoustic detection patterns than 95% KD methods.

Mercury accumulation and loss by necrophageous calliphoridae larvae (diptera)

2003 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 1189-1191
Author(s):  
J. Sarica ◽  
M. Amyot ◽  
J. Bey ◽  
L. Hare
Keyword(s):  
Mercury Accumulation

Isotopic characterization of lifetime movement by two demersal fishes from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 657 ◽  
pp. 161-172
Author(s):  
JL Vecchio ◽  
JL Ostroff ◽  
EB Peebles
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Eye Lens ◽  
Outer Continental Shelf ◽  
Red Grouper ◽  
Lens Diameter ◽  
Isotopic Characterization

An understanding of lifetime trophic changes and ontogenetic habitat shifts is essential to the preservation of marine fish species. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values (δ13C and δ15N) recorded within the laminar structure of fish eye lenses, reflecting both diet and location over time, to compare the lifetime trends of 2 demersal mesopredators. Tilefish Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps inhabit burrows on the outer continental shelf, which results in exceptional site fidelity. Red grouper Epinephelus morio are spawned on the middle to outer continental shelf, move to the inner shelf for the juvenile period, and return offshore upon sexual maturity. Both species inhabit the eastern Gulf of Mexico, a region with a distinctive offshore-inshore gradient in background δ13C values. Within individual tilefish (n = 36), sequences of δ13C values and δ15N values had strong, positive correlations with eye-lens diameter, and strong correlations between the 2 isotopes (mean Spearman r = 0.86), reflecting an increase in trophic position with growth and little lifetime movement. In red grouper (n = 30), δ15N values positively correlated with eye-lens diameter, but correlations between δ15N and δ13C were weak (mean Spearman r = 0.29), suggesting cross-shelf ontogenetic movements. Linear mixed model results indicated strong relationships between δ15N and δ13C values in tilefish eye lenses but no convergence in the red grouper model. Collectively, these results are consistent with previously established differences in the life histories of the 2 species, demonstrating the potential utility of eye-lens isotope records, particularly for investigating the life histories of lesser-known species.

Spatial assemblage structure of shallow-water reef fish in Southwest Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 649 ◽  
pp. 125-140
Author(s):  
DS Goldsworthy ◽  
BJ Saunders ◽  
JRC Parker ◽  
ES Harvey
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Reef Fishes ◽  
Reef Fish Assemblage ◽  
Reef Type ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Southwest Australia

Bioregional categorisation of the Australian marine environment is essential to conserve and manage entire ecosystems, including the biota and associated habitats. It is important that these regions are optimally positioned to effectively plan for the protection of distinct assemblages. Recent climatic variation and changes to the marine environment in Southwest Australia (SWA) have resulted in shifts in species ranges and changes to the composition of marine assemblages. The goal of this study was to determine if the current bioregionalisation of SWA accurately represents the present distribution of shallow-water reef fishes across 2000 km of its subtropical and temperate coastline. Data was collected in 2015 using diver-operated underwater stereo-video surveys from 7 regions between Port Gregory (north of Geraldton) to the east of Esperance. This study indicated that (1) the shallow-water reef fish of SWA formed 4 distinct assemblages along the coast: one Midwestern, one Central and 2 Southern Assemblages; (2) differences between these fish assemblages were primarily driven by sea surface temperature, Ecklonia radiata cover, non-E. radiata (canopy) cover, understorey algae cover, reef type and reef height; and (3) each of the 4 assemblages were characterised by a high number of short-range Australian and Western Australian endemic species. The findings from this study suggest that 4, rather than the existing 3 bioregions would more effectively capture the shallow-water reef fish assemblage patterns, with boundaries having shifted southwards likely associated with ocean warming.

High predatory efficiency and abundance drive expected ecological impacts of a marine invasive fish

2020 ◽  
Vol 637 ◽  
pp. 195-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM DeRoy ◽  
R Scott ◽  
NE Hussey ◽  
HJ MacIsaac
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Marine Predator ◽  
Eastern Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Red Grouper ◽  
Per Capita

The ecological impacts of invasive species are highly variable and mediated by many factors, including both habitat and population abundance. Lionfish Pterois volitans are an invasive marine species which have high reported detrimental effects on prey populations, but whose effects relative to native predators are currently unknown for the recently colonized eastern Gulf of Mexico. We used functional response (FR) methodology to assess the ecological impact of lionfish relative to 2 functionally similar native species (red grouper Epinephelus morio and graysby grouper Cephalopholis cruentata) foraging in a heterogeneous environment. We then combined the per capita impact of each species with their field abundance to obtain a Relative Impact Potential (RIP). RIP assesses the broader ecological impact of invasive relative to native predators, the magnitude of which predicts community-level negative effects of invasive species. Lionfish FR and overall consumption rate was intermediate to that of red grouper (higher) and graysby grouper (lower). However, lionfish had the highest capture efficiency of all species, which was invariant of habitat. Much higher field abundance of lionfish resulted in high RIPs relative to both grouper species, demonstrating that the ecological impact of lionfish in this region will be driven mainly by high abundance and high predator efficiency rather than per capita effect. Our comparative study is the first empirical assessment of lionfish per capita impact and RIP in this region and is one of few such studies to quantify the FR of a marine predator.

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